The562’s soccer coverage for the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Beach Futbol Club.
The562’s coverage of Millikan athletics in the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Curtis Boyer.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Millikan girls’ soccer took care of all family business on Tuesday night.
The Rams (15-3-4, 10-0-1) beat Wilson 3-0 to officially celebrate their fourth Moore League championship in the last five years. They haven’t given up a goal in league play while outscoring their opponents 74-0, and will finish the regular season against Jordan on Thursday. Millikan beat Jordan 13-0 in the first round of league play.
Millikan let the league title slip away at home against Wilson last season.
“It feels great,” Millikan coach Tino Nunez said. “Last year at this place it was taken away from us so you have to have that in the back of your mind as a player. We knew if we came out here and approached it the right way we could celebrate something tonight.”
“We definitely wanted to get it back this year especially for our amazing seniors who have been so supportive and such great leaders this year,” added Millikan junior Mya Delaney.
The Rams backline of Bella Nunez, Sydney Fast, Emma Arkus, Alissey Fang, Melina Kukahiko and goalkeeper Jordan Mendoza recorded their 18th clean sheet of the season.
“In these games I think it’s very important to know each other’s skills,” Mendoza said. “They’re a very physical team, and we’re a very technical team. The only thing you can do to combat that is to be very organized. So the entire time the back row was talking.”
This week before training, Nunez showed his team a clip from The562.org video to show how team defending helped the Rams beat Poly.
“We’ve kept clean sheets because everybody bought in and committed to defending,” Nunez said. “That’s always a good recipe to win championships.”
Millikan outshot Wilson 11-3 and took its lead in the 12th minute when Bela Menes assisted on Audrey Stewart’s cracking goal from the top of the 18-yard box.
The Rams doubled their lead in just two minutes into the second half when Emily Frost drilled a shot into the top corner. Sierra Sythe capped the scoring in the 70th minute with a lofted shot into an open goal.
Wilson (11-6-0, 8-3-0) had a great chance to score just before the hour mark, but Arkus and Delaney tracked back to clear the damage.
“You can always rely on her to be dominant in that midfield and she’s done it in every big game,” Nunez said of Delaney. “I couldn’t be more proud of her effort and sacrifice.”
“I feel like we’re so good because of all the team bonding we’ve been doing,” Delaney said. “(Nunez) is really on us about talking to the (teammates) you’re not close with. When we get to practice we greet everybody regardless of age or whatever. Our chemistry has really grown and that’s what really has enabled us to get shutouts.”
While Millikan finishes the season at Jordan on Thursday, Wilson will host Compton.
The CIF Southern Section playoff brackets will be released on Saturday.
